VOLUME CV, NUMBER 21 APRIL 5, 2004
In a vote that will make or were really listening." break the Avery Council's bid to In its talk, the mc listed four open the house to freshmen, the long-term concerns along with a Student Housing Committee is battery of logistical questions, all expected hand down a recom stressing their belief that Avery's mendation after a private meeting plan is premature. today. "There's just no way this can Although the majority faculty be beneficially implemented by SHC is seen as sympathetic to next year," held Popendorf. "It the idea, a compromise measure could be detrimental to student that would implement the plan in life if we don't first look at all the 2005 instead of 2004 is gaining issues." steam among moderates on both Logistics must be ready by the sides and may be a wild card in April 26 housing lottery--much balloting. too soon to pound down details The month-old Avery debate the Avery Council has so far left bubbled to a climax this week unaddressed, said Ruddock Presi when the Interhouse Commit dent Barrett Heyneman '05. "In tee unpacked its case against the general I think it's very bad pol measure to the SHC at a public icy to approve a 'plan' when you meeting Wednesday. don't know any details about how "I think there was some pro that plan will be implemented," ductive discussion," said IHC he held. D. KortaiThe California Tech Chair Kim Popendorf '06. "I'm The result is an emerging com Bob, the autouomous vehicle built by Team Caltech for the DARPA Grand Challenge, is displayed glad that tQere were people who promise position that would set a after travelling 1.3 miles during the competition across the Mojave Desert. Continued on Page 7, Column 1 IBob' Takes Fifth in First DA ~ Grand Challenge with 1.3 Miles
By ROBERTLI traveled a total of 1.3 out of 142 cy), asked teams to build a com miles, none of the other teams pletely autonomous vehicle that On March 13, 2004, the first finished the course either. The could travel from LA to Las Ve DARPA Grand Challenge was "Red Team" from Carnegie Mel- gas, a distance of approximately held. Designed as a cross-coun lon, which had by far the great- 250 miles, in 10 hours or less. try race across the Mojave Desert est funding and the most previous The actual event involved a pre from Barstow to Las Vegas, the experience, managed to travel liminary qualification course at contest pitted totally autonomous only 7.4 miles before becoming Fontana Speedway followed by a robotic vehicles against each oth stuck. cross-desert course from Barstow er for a prize of $1 million. Last Wednesday, Dr. Murray to Primm, Nevada. Teams re The Caltech team, led by gave a Watson lecture in which ceived 1000-2000 GPS waypoints MechE professor Richard Mur he described the efforts of Team 2 hours before the contest. These L. Tran/The California Tech ray, was one of 15 finalists to par Caltech and the challenges and .waypoints specified a corridor 10 Kim Popendorf, Penny Gunterman, and Jason Qnimby oCthe IHC ticipate in the contest. Although successes that it has faced. Dr. meters to 10 kilometers wide that present their case against allowing freshmen in Avery this year. "Team Caltech" placed 5th and Murray began first by describing was guaranteed to contain some the actual contest. navigable path that could be tra- The Grand Challenge, funded versed by a human driver in a 4x4 Misconceptions of Israel as Jewish e~nc~:~~~a;~~ep~j!~~S~;~~ ~:!~:~edOnpage8,Columnl State Cleared up by Israeli Bedouin Chess Team Defends By WILLIAM FONG ligious and linguistic differences Bedouins are Muslims, they iden as the source of this relationship. tify themselves as Israelis. How- h III h III On Wednesday evening, Beginning in the 1930s and con ~ver, the positi?n of.the Bedouins atn.plOnS 1 Caltech Hillel sponsored a talk by tinuing up to the present, Jews III Israeh SocIety IS somewhat Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli Bed and Bedouins served shoulder to nebulous to the Western world. ouin who has been traveling the shoulder against the British po Khaldi cited a question from a ByWEIJIMA world to share his unique experi lice and the Arab nations of the student at the Illinois Institute of On March 20, the Caltech Chess February with a perfect 6-0 score. ences. Khaldi received his bach Middle East. Technology who asked Khaldi Team beat top teams from around This win was reason for Interna elor's degree from Haifa Univer This brotherhood contrasts the if he had the right to vote. Be the country to win the 2004 U.S. tional Jack Peters to write in the sity and got a Master's degree in Western perspective that Israel ing citizens of Israel, Khaldi said Amateur Team Championships. Los Angeles Times, "Baseball political science from Tel Aviv is strictly a Jewish state and is that the Bedouins no doubt had The national championship was fans scream about the New York University. He has served in the anti-Muslim. Although the Israeli Continued on Page 2, Column 3 held on the Internet Chess Club. Yankees, but chess players yearn Israeli Defense Military as well as The win makes the Caltech Chess to break up Caltech." (Feb 29) in the Israeli Police Force. Team the first team ever to win The team then defeated the During his talk, Khaldi shared America's most prestigious team midwest regional winners in the his life experiences and attempted chess championship twice in a national semifinals and followed to correct misconceptions regard row. that with a victory over the east ing Israel. The Bedouins are a The winning team consisted regional winners in the champi nomadic group of shepherds who of master players Patrick Hum onship match. The Caltech team reside in the Middle East region. mel and Eugene Yanayt (both trounced both the midwest and Today, the Bedouins form a mi sophomores), Graham Free (se the east, beating each team by a nority in Israel. nior), and Zhihao Liu (sopho convincing 3-1 margin. In the With the Balfour Declaration in more). In 2003, Yanayt, Free, and national championship, all indi 1917, a substantial portion of the Liu teamed up with postdoctoral vidual team members went unde Jewish population began to leave scholar and master player Wei feated. Eastern Europe and settle in the Ji Ma to win the national Ama The Caltech Chess Team is com areas that make up modern-day teur Team Championships in the posed of members of the Caltech Israel. As the Jews set up small team's first year of competition. Chess Club. The club welcomes towns and cities, it brought the The Amateur Team Champion players of all skill levels through Bedouins in touch with the Jews ships are open not only to college out the Caltech community. More as well as with modern society. teams, but also to any other team information can be obtained from Very early on, the Jews and of non-professional players. the club's web site, http://www. the Bedouins forged a special re The team earned the right to its.caltech.edu/-citchess, or by lationship, according to Khaldi. D. KortaiThe California Tech . represent the west by demol contacting Patrick Hummel at Khaldi points to a sense of hu Ben Leitner, Emma Schmidgall, Ishmael Khaldi, and Ben Aronin, ishing tough competition at the [email protected]. manity that traversed political, re- pose as Khaldi prepares to give his talk last Wednesday. western regional championship in 2 THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS APRIL 5, 2004 but it resembles in key ways the existed at the time. orbits of objects in a cloud sur There is still more to be Astronomers Detect Most Distant rounding the sun predicted 54 learned about this newest known years ago by Dutch astronomer member of the solar system. Jan Oort to explain the existence Rabinowitz says that he has in Planetoid Yet 8 Billion Miles Away of certain comets. This hypo direct evidence that there may be thetical "Oort cloud" extends a moon following the planetoid tem. According to Mike Brown, sake of the coldest body known By ROBERT TINDOL halfway to the nearest star and is on its distant travels--a possibil Caltech associate professor of in the solar system. the repository of small icy bod ity that is best checked with the PASADENA, Calif.--A plane planetary astronomy and leader The researchers found the ies that occasionally get pulled in Hubble Space Telescope--and he toid more than eight billion miles of the research team, "the sun ap planetoid on the night of No toward the sun and become the notes that Sedna is redder than from Earth has been discovered pears so small from that distance vember 14, 2003, using the 48- comets seen from Earth. anything known in the solar sys by researchers led by a scien that you could completely block inch Samuel Oschin Telescope at However, Sedna is much clos tem with the exception of Mars, tist at the California Institute of it out with the head of a pin." Caltech's Palomar Observatory er than expected for the Oort but no one can say why. Trujillo Technology. The new planetoid As cold as it is now, the plane east of San Diego. Within days, cloud. The Oort cloud has been admits, "We still don't under is more than three times the dis toid is usually even colder. It ap the new planetoid was being ob predicted to begin at a distance stand what is on the surface of tance of Pluto, making it by far proaches the sun this closely only served on telescopes in Chile, 10 times greater even than that this body. It is nothing like what the most distant body known to briefly during the 10,500 years it Spain, Arizona and Hawaii; and of Sedna. Brown believes that we would have predicted or what orbit the sun. takes to revolve around the sun. soon after, NASA's new Spitzer this "inner Oort cloud" where we can currently explain." The planetoid is well beyond At its most distant, it is 84 billion Space Telescope was trained on Sedna resides was formed by the But the astronomers are not yet the recently discovered Kuiper miles from the sun (900 times the distant object. gravitational pull of a rogue star worried. They can continue their belt and is likely the first detec Earth's distance from the sun) The Spitzer images indicate that came close to the sun early studies as Sedna gets closer and tion of the long-hypothesized and the temperature plummets that the planetoid is no more in the history of the solar system. brighter for the next 72 years be Oort cloud. With a size approxi to just 20 degrees above absolute than 1,700 kilometers in diame Brown explains that "the star fore it begins its 1O,500-year trip mately three-quarters that of zero. ter, making it smaller than Pluto. would have been close enough out to the far reaches of the solar Pluto, it is very likely the largest The discoverers---Brown and But Brown, using a combination to be brighter than the full moon system and back again. Brown object found in the solar system his colleagues Chad Trujillo of of all of the data, estimates that and it would have been visible notes, "The last time Sedna was since the discovery of Pluto in the Gemini Observatory and Da the size is likely about halfway in the daytime sky for 20,000 this close to the sun, Earth was 1930. vid Rabinowitz of Yale Universi between that of Pluto and that of years." Worse, it would have dis just coming out of the last the last At this extreme distance from ty--have proposed that the frigid Quaoar, the planetoid discovered lodged comets further out in the ice age; the next time it comes the sun, very little sunlight planetoid be named "Sedna," af by the same team in 2002 that Oort cloud, leading to an intense back, the world might again be a reaches the planetoid and the ter the Inuit goddess who created was previously the largest known comet shower, which would have completely different place." temperature never rises above the sea creatures of the Arctic. body beyond Pluto. ' wiped out any life on Earth that a frigid 400 degrees below zero Sedna is thought to live in an icy The extremely elliptical or Farenheit, making it the coldest cave at the bottom of the ocean- bit of Sedna is unlike anything known location in the solar sys- an appropriate spot for the name- previously seen by astronomers, Douglas Appointed haldi Analyzes Transition From University Librarian omadic Life to Modern ociety By DEBORAH WILLIAMS-HEDGES PASADENA, Calif.-Kimberly lections. Continued/rom Page 1, Column 3 Douglas has been named Univer Douglas received her MS in the right to vote. A question that sity Librarian at the California library science from Long Island seemed obvious to Khaldi, it il Institute of Technology. She had University in 1977. She subse lustrated the misunderstanding of served as acting director of librar quently held positions in scientific the situation in Israel. ies since April 2003. research libraries at the Bigelow In addition to discussing the A staff member in the Caltech Laboratory of Ocean Sciences relationship between the Bedou Library System since 1988, in Boothbay Harbor, Maine and ins and Israel, Khaldi also spoke Douglas first served as head of at USC, where she headed the about the difficult transition from reader services. She then served Hancock Library of Biology and a nomadic lifestyle to modern as director of the Sherman Fairch Oceanography from 1982 to 1985 society. Citing himself as one of ild Library of Engineering and and the Science and Engineering the fortunate ones, Khaldi empha Applied Science and as head of Libraries from 1985 to 1988. sized the lack of education as an technical information services. Douglas has served on the IEEE obstacle to modernization. With Douglas has long been involved Library Advisory Committee and less than 5% of the population in designing and implementing is currently a member of the Vis possessing a high school educa automated library services. She iting Committee for the Goddard tion, much less a college educa introduced desktop publishing to Space Flight Center Library. She tion, Khaldi stressed the impor the Caltech libraries, initiating has been active in Library and tance of building schools. their online presence in the early Information Technology Associa Another obstacle was the un 1990s and provided leadership in tion Interest Groups by helping derstandable resistance of the the design and implementation to found, chair and develop pro elderly to modernization. Khaldi of Caltech's document delivery grams for the Interest Group on proposed that the effort should service, TOC/DOC. She has also Electronic Publishing. be focused on the younger gen taken a leadership role in imple Dan Meiron, associate provost eration but that the transition to a menting digital collections at for information and information modern society should be gradual Caltech, beginning in 1999 with technology at Caltech, said, "It in order to minimize the erosion the campus discussion regarding gives me great pleasure to an of values that have come to define Copyright in Scholarly Commu nounce the appointment of Ms. what it means to be a Bedouin. nication. Kim Douglas as University Li After his stop at Caltech, Ish Douglas was instrumental in brarian... Kim brings to this ap mael Khaldi will continue trav the planning and execution of pointment a deep appreciation eling to colleges and universities the Sherman Fairchild Library of of the traditional role of libraries across the United States and Eu Engineering and Applied Science coupled with an equally deep un D. Karla/The California Tech rope to share his insight and shed that opened in 1997. She has pub derstanding of the enormous po Ben Aronin introduces Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli Bedouin that some light on the ambiguity that lished on a variety of topics, most tential of the integration of new Hillel sponsored to come speak about Israel. - surrounds Israel. recently on aspects of digital col- digital tools of scholarship."
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NOT YET A MEMBER? All it takes to join is a $5 deposit in our high-yield, federally insured savings account, and a 25¢ membership fee. Just visit our on-campus branch. CAMPUS OFFICE: 515 S.WilsonAve .• MS 100-63 by the National Credit Union Administration. US_ Government agency. CEFCU is an Equal Opportunity Lender. (626) 395-6300 • www.cefcu.org THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY APRIL 5,2004 3 ASCIT BoD Discusses Formal, Coffeehouse e Case ainst March 30, 2004 1. and officers are updated, so check Present: Ann Bendfeldt, Ryan 7. Jenny reports that an alumn it out! Farmer, Jenny Fisher, Shaun Lee, wants to fund an expansion of the 14. Corinna also notes that sev Frosh in Avery Kelly Lin, Galen Loram, Kim teaching awards. Voted 8-0-0 to eral ASCIT resolutions, including By BARRETT HEYNEMAN, Popendorf, Claire Walton, Corin give Jenny approval to go ahead resolutions VII, IX, X, XI, XIII, HESPER REGO, na Zygourakis with this as she sees fit. XIX, and XXI, were updated to and LIONEL JINGLES 8. Kim Popendorf reports that more accurately reflect current Guests: Parag Bhayani, Alex the IHC will present its case procedures. Resolution updates For over a month now, the stu proposal resolves this discrepancy. Munoz, Alex Shim (against frosh in Avery) to the have been posted on the donut dent-faculty housing committee has Furthermore, having freshmen Student Housing Committee on website. become a veritable battleground will be a detriment to Avery's cur Introduction: March 31. The IHe's statement is 15. Corinna reminds everyone over the decision to put freshmen rent balance of openness and com 1. Call to Order, 12:05 PM available online at
"Born On" Parties Enjoy The 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure declared: the fresh-brewed taste "Teachers are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, of the King of Beers! but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject." (This clause was reaffirmed in 1970.) Friday, April 9 Jazz at the Park If you are not taking a course whose subject is the war in Iraq, your professor 94.7 The Wave presents live jazz in Sirona's should not be making statements about the war in class. Or about George following the races. Bush, if the class is not on contemporary American presidents, presidential administrations or some similar subject. Friday, April· 16 Rock N' Roll at the Park . We do not expect our doctors to impose their political opinions on us when we The World Famous KROa presents go to them for treatment. We should likewise not be assaulted by the political World Tribe at Sirona's following the races. prejudices of professors when we pay them for an education.
Special First Post 3·P.M. • Gates Open 1:30 P.M. If your professor is abusing his or her teaching privilege or.is confused about the professional obligations of an educator please contact us. Students for Academic Freedom National Campus Director 1IMI.1I11l mu""... " lAC/itS USBClAr/U Sara Dogan Located just east of Pasadena in Arcadta. Use the 1-10 or 1-210 Fwy. Phone: 202·969·2467 For more information, call 626-574-RACE www.santaanita.com WWW.STUDENTSFORACADEMICFREEDOM.ORG I 4 THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY APRIL 5,2004 UTILITYPASADENA SELLS Cooperatlon · CrUCla · 1on A very I ssue By NEIL TIWARI The Council tried in the past about the idea of freshmen in Av I implore both Avery and the with the previous IHC, and per ery on a philosophical level be IHC to give working with each GREENPOWER The IHC is an important gov haps the comments contained in cause it is inherently a bad idea other on a joint proposal a chance. ByAMEERACHOWDHURY erning-body, composed of the their minutes showed how dif no matter what Avery tries to do I hope the IHC will be sensi Pasadena Water & Power (PWP) Seven House presidents and an ficult it was. The vulgar words to make it favorable? Do they tive to the concerns of the Avery customers can support renewable elected chairperson, which wields and insults in their official min object to the idea because the residents, respect the authority energy by purchasing 100% wind much power over student life. The utes and the e-mails containing Council's Proposal is incomplete, of the Avery Council, and under generated "green power." Why IHC has always presented itself as the flat-out rejection of Avery by because one cannot risk accepting stand the desire for Avery see the use green power? Because power an entity to which anyone can go the IHC are a permanent record a: proposal that risks the living ex changes it desires implemented plants that bum fossil fuels, such to its meetings and have his or her of how the IHC was not such an perience of the future freshmen? as quickly and as efficiently as as coal, contribute to air pollu concerns addressed, an entity that open-minded or supportive body. If the former question is an is possible. I hope Avery will reach tion, acid rain, and are the largest represents the majority and fights The past has created a rift between sue, then perhaps one can under out to the other Houses, obtain single source of mercury, which for its views, and an entity that the IHC and Avery, giving rise to stand why the Faculty Student a list of concerns from the IHC contaminates fish. forms its views on student opin much animosity on both sides. Housing Committee is needed and work with them in address Renewable energy, such as ions. However, the question is not A new IHC has risen, and to make a decision to prevent ing them one-by-one, and work to wind power, has often been of whether one can go to the IHC, while they are indeed more open the constant quarrelling on both gain the acceptance of the under faulted for being too expensive. but where things go from there. and considerate, I worry that the sides. Once a binding decision is graduate community at large. But PWP's green power option This is about Avery, about its specter of past difficulties have made, both sides no longer fight Through working together, is surprisingly affordable. A typi Council, and how it has tried very comeback to haunt us. Just as in over philosophy and are forced to neither side will see an labsolute cal customer, who uses 500 kWh hard to work with the IHC. Av the past, Avery and the IHC are work together to implement the victoryi in the sense that both of electricity per month, would ery no longer wants second-class not working together, but against details of what the Faculty decide sides will not end up doing what spend only $12.50 more to com treatment from the other Houses. each other. Each side has a differ is the future direction. . each believes is the absolute best pletely convert to green power. It wants to build a community ent view, and neither has worked If the latter question is an is solution, but at least at the end of To keep wind energy prices and it wants to extend its hand with the other to achieve some sue, then over the past months the day both can leave the issue low, Pasadena partnered with to incoming freshmen. The hope thing together. Both sides are not we have wasted time submitting not feeling in defeat. Avery has neighboring utilities to buy 20% is that some of them might find sitting down together to submit a proposals and counter-proposals gone to the IHC, but from there of the High Winds plant's output. Avery as a place that better suits joint proposal to the Faculty Stu when instead we all could have things have gone nowhere. Per The High Winds plant, located in them and will stay there through dent Housing Committee, but are been working in a joint proposal, haps, with another try and a bet northern. California, is the largest out their years at Caltech, keeping each submitting proposals and one in which both sides feel com ter understanding for each other, wind farm in the state. the Avery community alive and counter-proposals. fortable with the details and work we can go quite far in achieving a Through an inventive agree growing. Do the IHC and Avery disagree together to make it happen. positive outcome. ment, Pasadena receives continu- . ous power from the High Winds plant regardless of wind patterns. This makes it easier to predict citywide supply and expenses, and lowers the cost of wind en ergy for Pasadena consumers. PWP's involvement in the High Winds project is encouraging be cause, as a municipal power com pany, it is exempt from the state mandated goals of20% renewable USC ASIA BUSINESS FORUM by 2017. PWP's current power IBEAR Executive Prog rams mix is 9% renewable according to their power content label. Marshall School of Business The High Winds plant has been sending power to Pasadena since September 2003, and about 80 PWP customers have opted for the green power plan so far. Asia BioBusiness PWP customers can completely switch to green power for an addi Opportu nities I Risks/ Best Practices tional 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Customers may also partly switch to green power by purchasing 100 kWh blocks for an additional Dr.. Gurinder Shahi $2.50 per month. Blocks are a Chairman and CEO, BioEnterprise Asia good choice for those who want to contribute a fixed amount per MBBS, PhD - Nabonal University of Singapore; MPH - Harvard University month, and don't want their con tribution to vary by usage. Dr. Shahi's latest book: . The PWP Green Power option BioBusiness in Asia - How Asia Can Capitalize on the Life Science Revolution requires a six month minimum Pearson Prentice Ha.U Publishing, late April 2004 commitment, after which custom ers can change their contribution or end their subscription. You can San Gabriel Valley print an application from the PWP Friday April 9, 2004 website (http://www.ci.pasadena. 7: 30am Continental Breakfast ca.us/waterandpower/) or call 8-9:30am program PWP's Answer Line at (626) 744- Avery Library, Caltech 6970.
The California Tech Admission: $25 if registered by April 7, $35 at the door Caltech 4D-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 editorial desk: (626) 395-6153 Contact Monica Heath, IBEAR Executive Programs advertising desk: (626) 395-6154 213.740.7132 or editorial e-mail: [email protected] VOLUME CV, NUMBER 21 Based in Singapore, Dr. Shah! is a physician with training in molecular biochemistry and international health policy and management. He is Asia's leading expert on change management and strategiC program implementation in Tammy Yee Wing Ma Vi Tuong Tran healthcare and the life sciences. Managing Editor Business Manager
Matthew H Walker Circulation Dr. Shahi has played a key role in the development of major international initiatives including the International News Director Natalia Deligne Vaccine Institute and the Asia-Pacific International Molecular Biology Network. He has served as advisor and Tearsheets consultant to leading international organizations, governments, corporations and foundations. He has authored Tim Tirrell over 50 articles and served as lead editor on Internationa(perspective on Environment, Development and Health: Tow.ards q$U$t[j{nqO(f= .Wqrld. The Tech is published weekly except during vacation and examination periods by the As sociated Students of the California Institute of Technology, Inc. The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the authors aM Partners Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC); advertiserS. USC Technology Commercialization Alliance; USC Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies; Letters and submissions are welcome; e mail submissions to [email protected] as Sanjiu-Vitahut International Products LLCi San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership (SGVEP); Pasadena Entretec; plain-text attachments, including the author's name, by Friday of the week before publica Pierce College International Trade Center tion. Sorry the Tech does not accept anony mous contributions. The editors reserve the right to edit and abridge alJ submissions for Sponsors Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) any reason. All written work remains property of its author. The advertising deadline is five p.m. Friday; alladvertising should be submitted electroni cally or as camera-ready art, but the Tech can also do simple typesetting and arrangement. IBEAR•.• We're All International Business! All advertising inquiries should be directed to the business manager at business@tech. caltech.edu. For subscription information, please send mail to "Subscriptions." THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY APRIL 5,2004 5
things: reason, religion and natu of the applicants determine the Caltech Shooting Club pres the scenes at laboratories and ral philosophy in C17th language level of awards in any year. Ap ents: Free firearms training at hospitals where specialists are planning" plications and reGommendation Front Sight in Las Vegas. An experimenting with new ap 16-17 April Conference: Con forms are available online at: alumnus has donated passes proaches to eating disorders. Attention all undergraduate sumption,Modernity, and the www..finaid.caltech.edu/Upper goodfor four days of gun train Lunch and drinks provided! students on Financial Aid: The West ClassMeritAwardMarch2004. ing, good for anyone who didn't 2) April 14, 2004. Financial last date to request any adjust 21 April (Wednesday) Harris html or in the Financial Aid go last year. Courses are avail Wellness Series: Preparing for ments of loan to work study, Lecture Dan Kevles (Yale). Sci Office at 414 South Holliston able in rifle, pistol, or shotgun, Retirement. 12:00-1:00pm. 2nd or work study to loan, for your ence, Arms, and the State: J. R. Avenue, Room 110. Electronic and normally cost $1200. Cost Floor Center for Student Servic 2003-04 financial aid award, is Oppenheimer and the Twentieth submissions will not be ac to you will probably be less es. Join Denise Carter, retirement Friday, May 7, 2004. Requests Century cepted. THE DEADLINE FOR than $100. Possible dates are consultant and TIAA-CREF for 2003-04 changes made after 29 April (Friday) Munro Semi SUBMITTING COMPLETED April 23-26 or May7-1O. Contact representative, as she details the May 7 will not be considered. nar Carl Hoeffer (Barcelona). PAPER APPLICATIONS TO [email protected] for more ins- and -outs of preparing for Please contact the Financial Aid "Chance, Time and Causation" THE FlNANCIALAID OFFICE information. retirement and your financial Office at ext. 6280 if you have 3 May Joshua Greene, Princ IS 5:00 PM, April 9, 2004. No future. You are not too young or any questions. eton University. "Cognitive exceptions will be made to this Interested in Applied Math in too old to start! Lunch Provided. Conflict and Control in Moral deadline. a broad sense ? What is research RSVP required! For more infor The next deadline for MHF Judgment" ingraduate school ? And where mation or to register please con funds: April 15 7 May (Friday) Munro Seminar Dance Classes does it lead outside of academia ? tact [email protected]. In 2002-2003 the Moore and Maria Farland (Fordham). "De All classes meet in the Braun Join the new student chapter of edu or ext 3221. Hufstedler funds were estab composing City: Walt Whitman's Gym multipurpose room. There SIAM! (Society for Industrial 3) Women's Intermediate Self lished to enhance the quality New York and the Science of are 8 classes in each series. and Applied Mathematics). We Defense of student life at Caltech. Ap Life and Death." No special clothing or shoes organize events to bring together Sunday, April 18, 1-5pm. This proximately $180,000 is avail 14 May (Friday) Munro Semi are required for the beginners' undergraduate and graduate class is for those women who able each year to fund qualified nar Clementine Oliver, Caltechl classes. RSVPs required only students, from all departments, have participated in the intro proposals. All members of the Huntington Fellow. "Where Do for the bellydancing class. To to come and hear cool talks and ductory workshop and would Caltech community are encour Pamphlets Come From? Po be added to our mailing list, go vital career advice. Here's a like the opportunity to deliver aged to submit proposals for litical Writing in Late Medieval to https://utils.its.caltech.edu/ sample of our activities: full force, debilitating blows to events, equipment, and other England" mailmanllistinfo/troupe-list. All - The "Meetings on Mathemat a padded assailant in a variety of projects aimed at improving 21 May (Friday) Munro Semi classes are co-sponsored by the ics in Industry" are big, quarterly simulated scenarios. Registration student life at Caltech. For more nar Justin D' Arms (Ohio State). GSC and ASCIT, with additional events, where we get top mathe required! Class size is limited. details and guidelines for propos "Objectivity in Taste and Emo funding from Campus Life and maticians to come and talk about All classes are taught at the als, visit our website at: www.its. tion" Graduate Housing. their work in the Industry. Women's Center, Center for Stu caltech.edu/-mhf You can also 28 May (Friday) HPS Seminar 1) Beginning Bellydancing - In addition to these quarterly dent Services, Bldg. #86. Please view a list of previously funded Brian Copenhaver (UCLA). Saturdays, 12:45-1:45 PM, meetings we organize a weekly contact the Women's Center for projects on this website. If you "From Magic to Science: Seeing begins 4/3 student seminar with speakers more information or to register, have any questions, you are also aWay Out" Professional Instructor: Leela mostly from the ACM, CDS and 395-3221 or wcenter@studaJf. welcome to e-mail us: mhf@its. Trial class fee: $5 for students, CS departments. Undergrads are caltech.edu. caltech.edu. Attention: Current Fresh $8 for others welcome to participate and pres men, Sophomores & Juniors: Caltech students full term fee: ent their work. This year several SCHOLARSHIPS The Hawaiian Club is offer 2004-2005 Upper Class Merit $20 ($2.50 per class!) talks focused on the IEEE's Top The Hispanic Engineer Na ing hula (traditional Hawaiian Awards. Each year, the Faculty Other Caltech community 10 algorithms of the 20th century tional Achievement Award dance) lessons again this term! Committee on Scholarships and members full term fee: $50 - this friday is on the Fast Fouri Corporation "HENAAC" is Class will be held in Winnett Financial Aid grants a number ($6.25 per class!) erTransform. Come and join us at proud to announce that the 2004 Lounge on Saturdays from April of Upper Class Merit Awards to CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED so noon in room 200 Guggenheim. HENAAC Scholarship Pro 10 - May 29, 2-4 PM (with the the most academically-talented RSVP to Kathy.Kelly@caltech. Lunch is provided. gram is officially underway. exception of 4/24 and 5/1: these of the Institute's Sophomores, edu Sign up for free student mem This scholarship is available classes will be held on Sunday, Juniors, and, occasionally, Fresh 2) Hip-Hop for Advanced bership to SIAM during the for undergraduate and graduate 4/25 and 5/2). The cost is $51 men. Upper Class Merit Awards Beginners Google event, and receive a free students majoring in Engineer class for Caltech community are based on outstanding scholas Thursdays, 9-10 PM, begins . subscription to 'SIAM News' ing, Math, Computer Science, members; $12/class for all oth tic achievement as demonstrated 4/1 and 'SIAM Review'. Stay in or Material Science. There are ers. For more information, see by exceptional performance in Professional Instructor: Col formed on the upcoming chapter our club website at http://www. formal classes, in independent lette Sibal activities by joining our mail fourteen $5,000 Engineering, ugcs/-lilinoe or email us at research, and extracurricular ac Trial class fee: $5 for students, ing list. For more info and to Math or Science Scholarships maruchan@its. tivities since beginning academic $8 for others sign up, visit www.its.caltech. available. The deadline to apply studies at Caltech. They are not Caltech students full term fee: edul-siam. is April 23, 2004. For application Humanities and Social Sci based on financial need. Last $20 ($2.50 per class!) and other information, please ences Seminars for this Term: year, 56 students were awarded Other Caltech community Racquetball Challenge Court. visit their website: http://www. 9 April (Friday) HPS Seminar Upper Class Merit Awards in members full term fee: $40 ($5 Wednesdays, 5:30 - 8 PM, Braun henaac .org. Rhodri Lewis (Oxford Univer amounts ranging from $17,925 to per class!) Gym. Show up to the Racquet sity). "To deliver the natures of $31,461. The number and caliber ball club's challenge court and The Desk and Derrick Edu take on anyone here. We usually cational Trust Scholarships have two reserved courts, and we (five in the restricted amount play winner stays on. Challenge of $1,500 each with one unre yourself and a worthy opponent! stricted of $500) are available Everyone is welcome and we to students seeking degrees in normally have all skill levels fields related to the petroleum, show up (including beginners). energy, and allied industries. And if you don't know how to Applications are available on the play, look for our next monthly Association of Desk and DerriCk club sponsored lesson. You can Club's website: http://www.addc. borrow the necessary equipment org The application deadline is from the front desk. See you April 1, 2004. Software Developers there! Sallie Mae has a number of (2004 Graduates) Submit to the Totem! The scholarships available: The Sal Totem is now accepting submis lie Mae Fund First in My Fam sions for the 2004 edition the the ily Scholarship Program, The For 27 years, Oracle has been helping customers manage critical information. literary magazine. Anyone in the Sallie Mae Fund Unmet Need Caltech community can submit Scholarship Program, The Sal Our goa! is to make sure they spend less money on their systems while getting the their poetry, short stories, art lie Mae Fund American Dream most up-to-date and accurate information from them. If you share this goal and are work and/or photography to the Scholarship Program, and The Totem. Please send your work by Sallie Mae 911 Education Fund. a 2004 graduate with a Computer Science degree, don't wait to send your resume. email ([email protected]), In addition The Sallie Mae Fund or by campus mail (MSC 292). awards a $1,000 scholarship to a future college student at each of Orade offers generous compensation and unparalleled benefits. Women's Center Events its nationwide "Paying for Col Resumes to: [email protected] 1) Reel Women - Dying to Be lege" workshops. For a complete Thin listing of 2004 scholarship ap April 8, 12:00-1:00pm. 2ndflr plications, criteria and deadlines, common area, Center for Student please visit: httti://www.tb~~~!": www.oracle.com/college liemllP.f,.-" -- - . Services. An epidemic of eating .. _____ ~Ullu.org. . disorders. ~~ ~;;~aairig through America's youth, a contagion Educaid is offering their fanned by the media's obsession "DoubleTake" Sweepstakes. with wafer-thin celebrities. For Win two $2,500 scholarships millions of young Americans, - One for you and one for your the conflict between real and school. Applications are avail fashionable images of the body able in the Financial Aid Office, can be a matter of life or death. or on Educaid's website: https:/I This video takes viewers behind www.educaid.comldoubletake 6 THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY APRIL 5,2004 Over 50% of Caltech Health UGs Fill Out & Worklife Fair Health Survey Slated for April Blacker Wins Variety of Activi ... Prize for Turnout ties Planned By JANE CURTIS Health Educator I remember when I first be We hope you can join us for gan talking with students and the Caltech Health & WorkLife colleagues about the health Fair on Friday, April 16th from survey, someone said, "I'll be 11 a.m. - 2:00p.m. Our theme is surprised if you get more than Get Balance! -- making the of 300 students to respond." Well, ten-overlooked need to balance they were wrong and I'm very our lives between work, family, pleased. The response was ter research/study and other com rific - 1,018 students which is a mitments. The Fair is designed to 50.35% response rate. I'm sure promote well-being by providing the personal and undergraduate information and resources on a house incentives contributed to a variety of health-related topics. It high response rate, but I also be has been expanded this year to in lieve Caltech students like sur clude more health screenings and veys and appreciate having their summer camp sign-ups. Health Net (our new health care pro opinions heard. vider) will be on hand to provide Forty-one percent of the grad free health screenings in Winnett uate students took the survey pubroom. In early April, stop by compared to 58.8% of the un the Caltech Bookstore window dergraduates. The female par display to learn important infor ticipation rate was 37.3%; male mation about the various health participation rate was 62.7%. screenings. The American Can Congratulations to Blacker for cer Society will also be holding winning the $300.00 cash prize a blood drive in Winnett Lounge. - 90.35% of the house members The band, Upstream, will return took the survey (and I know they with the great sound of reggae; need the money). I am waiting we will offer more chair mas for a few more prizes to arrive, sages and shorter lines for the but anticipate handing them out climbing wall. The participating beginning April 12th. Winners vendors will advertise their prod - please keep an eye out for an ucts and have give-aways. Take a email from me, and the names break, come outside and enjoy the will be posted on the bulletin festivities. board outside the Coffeehouse Sponsored by Human Resourc next week. es, Staff and Faculty Consulta In the coming months, I will tion Center, Caltech's Rideshare be perusing the data and hold Program and the Cal tech Y. The ing student focus groups. The success of this event would not overall goal is to share key sur have been possible without the vey findings and to learn from generous support of the staff and students what they think the best students on the Planning Com program format should be, given mittee. A special thanks to the the distinct nature of Caltech. following departments: Athletics, Thank you again for taking Caltech Y, Campus Life, Environ the time to take the survey. I mental Health & Safety, Facilities appreciate all of the feedback, Management, Health Education, including its limitations. This is Human Resources, Safety Office, a very good start to understand Security & Parking Services, Staff ing the health of Techers. As I and Faculty Consultation Center mine ... my have mentioned to some people, and the Student Health Center. chocolate ... my the next I administer this survey, prec.loIl6 ... we lovee. you ... I'll be able to create 6-8 "Caltech Pasadena DURlex for Rent. specific questions", which will 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath, Oak allow me to address some of the floors, 2 Stories, Yard. unique concerns faced by the For $1995/month. graduate and undergraduate stu 543 S. Hudson dents. (626) 786-2787
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Honda, Acura, Nissan, & Toyota Specialists Give Ellen a call.' 54 South Raymond Ave She loves doing business with tethers! Serving the Caltech community since 1994 (626) 441- 4415 (626) 793.5595 (626) 58-HONDA 584-6632 FAX (626) 792-5555 1506 Mission St. - So. Pasadena, CA 26 North Hill Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106 www.ellenssilkscreening.com STUDENT TRAVEL & BEYOND nllnE » on THE PHonE » on CRmpUf » on THG fTREG THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS APRIL 5, 2004 7 C to Hand Down Avery Verdict Today Continued/rom Page 1, Column 2 2005 date for the introduction of to meet freshmen housing stan freshmen into Avery. The idea is dards. They also listed Avery's winning over moderate factions lack of community dinners and of Avery's Council as well as participation in inter-house ath the guarded consideration of ele letics as points of apprehension. ments within the IHe. "Avery's proposal didn't have "I'm willing to wait a year numbers, it didn't have details, it and let Avery develop as a house didn't have a set plan," said IHC rather than deal with the huge Secretary Joanna Cohen '05. backlash," said key proponent The council's proposal, laid out Ryan Witt '05, widely seen as a at the SHC's March 13 meeting, candidate for Avery's next chan tallied the benefits and addressed cellor. "I think there have been prominent worries of opening Av some positive changes and I'd ery to freshmen, but unwrapped like to see those positive changes only the basics of how, procedur continue." ally, the leadership would prepare A 2005 date would give Avery the house for freshmen. a full year to work out the IHC's Still, proponents called the requested specifics. With the IHC's demand for immediate de council's just-launched campaign tail a bit too burdensome. to "take Avery's case to the peo "Many of the concerns they've ple," Avery may even have time raised we think we have a reason to win over skeptical undergradu able means of addressing," said L. TraniThe California Tech ates, the solid majority of whom Avery Chancellor Orion Crisaful Members of the Student Housing Committee and the IHC listen as IHC representatives outline their presently side with the IHC. li, a graduate student. "We don't objections to having freshman living in Avery. Still, it's a minority of support think they're as big a deal as [the ers who share Witt's position. IHC] has said." To this end, the call for an undergraduate man- ings geared at improving Avery's of Student Houses Cathy Jurca Avery's resident associates said council staged an internal meet- date before proceeding with such image was a Sunday barbecue said after Wednesday's meeting they're "pro-2004," while many ing Friday to rework the house's a historic change. co-hosted with Blacker House, that although "each side argues in Avery's core group worry that aging constitution and hammer "There's a lot of negative en- where in a gesture of goodwill the its case articulately and with en momentum would drift over the down some of the specifics raised ergy on both sides," said Lloyd council also purchased Blacker- thusiasm ... on the whole, I would course of a lost year. Jason Yo at Wednesday's meeting. President Haluna Gunterman '05, sold fund-raiser lemonade. have to describe my sympathies sinski '06, for instance, said that The IHC also pressed the ques- "from people in the houses who The larger relationship between as lying more with the residents Avery's presently strong leader tion of whether the council's are extremely concerned and the IHC and Avery also took the of Avery." ship might peter out if they have proposal would make Avery an from people in Avery who aren't spotlight at Wednesday's meeting Committee sources have placed to "fight for freshmen year after "eighth house" or simply open it connected with the houses." To when the IHC rejected a call by sole SHC undergraduate Manuel year after year." to freshmen without changing its this end, the IHC's presentation Avery rights advocate Neil Tiwari Garcia '05 in line with the IRC, Nor is the IRC ready to hop status as an off-campus dormitory. stressed that "time is needed to '05 for a jointly written proposal while sole graduate student Kar on the bandwagon. Neither Rick An Avery with freshmen, said the ease animosity on both sides." outlining stipulations and prereq en Smith has expressed pointed etts President Lionel Jingles '05 committee, would lose its identity Though they're saving it as a uisites for admitting freshmen to concern about whether graduate nor Ruddock President Barrett as a haven for those dissatisfied last recourse, the IHC has long Avery. students would feel welcome in Heyneman '05 would lend his with the house system. toyed with the notion of a student Here, the house presidents fell an Avery with freshmen. While support, insisting the house resi "There are two possible out- survey that would illustrate the back on their constituencies. "The Geology Professor Paul Asimow dents they represent almost uni comes," explained Page House extent .of opposition. Popendorf undergraduates we represent just said neither the IHC's nor Avery's versally oppose the idea--be it President Jason Quimby '05. said Friday that the poll may be- don't like this," said Heyneman. approach is superior, he added 2004 or 2005. "Avery could be a house, but then----~~----=-----:;..--- Former Chancellor Yuan Sun that Avery may not have suffi In fact, the plan may be most we'd lose the option of Avery as a '1\.very could be '04 expressed disappointment, cient time to solidify details. attractive not to negotiators but 'halfway house.' Or Avery could calling the IHC's collaboration "The IRC is asking for a de to SHC faculty anxious to ease not become a house--but then a house, but then critical in any effort to promote tailed proposal in advance of the student infighting. In light of this, would it have the community Avery's image. "I was kind of basic policy decision, whereas even Avery's pro-2004 contingent necessary for freshmen?" '..1 I h disappointed by the IRC saying, Avery is seeking approval for has resigned to going along with a Still, advocates maintained we u ose t e op... 'This is Avery's work, not ours,'" the concept before fleshing out 2005 measure. "Because the IHC that Avery can build such a com- he said. "I honestly think we need details," explained Asimow. "De is so negative about freshmen this munity without trampling on the tion oifAvery as a the IRC's help. They can't just bating tactics apart, neither of year," explained graduate student liberties of those upset with per- say that we'll convince all the un- these approaches is inherently su and council member Geoffrey ceived peer pressure in the on- 'hallway house:" dergraduates if they do nothing." perior, but at this point there may Hom, "it may have begun to taint campus houses. "Avery wants Sj I It is out of disagreements like not be time to work out the details how people think about it." the good things that go on in the this that some among Avery's core this year." Indeed, the IHC's reasons for houses but without the exclusiv- come a reality if the SHC rules have entertained the possibility of Popendorf has already made concern are many. In its Wednes ity," said Avery resident associate for Avery Monday. introducing a non-binding arbi contingency plans for an IHC re day talk, the committee called on Molly Jones. "Our beliefs aren't a The Avery Council's response trator, plucked from among the sponse to any of the three likely Avery to lay down specifics on a laundry list of traditions; they're is a new campaign to "take its case faculty and staff who have been SHC recommendations. housing lottery system, a plan for a statement of principles." to the people" to remedy preva- present at the SHC meets. SUp- If the SHC recommends fresh Rotation room picks, a house dues But one issue Avery couldn't lent "misperceptions." First in porters, however, call it a very men in Avery next fall, the IRC framework and an additional RA set aside so easily was the IHC's the planned slate of social gather- last resort. will have to step up its defense. Meanwhile, the entire land "If that happens, we'll continue scape is braced for drastic change to fight it hugely," she said. "The when the SHC hands down its logistics to be taken care of are long -awaited recommendation, huge. The automatic backlash expected to hold the most weight would set us back even further. with the top Student Affairs and That is the worst possible course Campus Life administrators ul of action." timately charged with approving And a 2005 recommendation? any freshmen-in-Avery measure. "Our response to that in large Instead of scheduled meetings part will depend on the response and orderly presentations, parti of the students," she explained. A sans on both sides will then have survey, she added, would then be to take their cases directly to ad inevitable to canvas and demon ministrators--a considerably more strate undergraduate opinion. daunting prospect. Most see an outright rejection Few are predicting that the SHC of Avery's measure by the SHC will rule in the IRC's favor. SHC as unlikely, but Popendorf said it head Border is viewed as very wouldn't close the lines of com sympathetic to the plan, while Ge munication the IHC has opened ology Professor Geoffrey Blake with Avery. "Even then, I still and Math Professor David Wales, think the relationship between though they have not publicly Avery and the houses is still taken sides, are said to be open to something worth working on," Avery's arguments. Geology Pro she said. fessor John Bercaw, though he did Also looming on the horizon is not attend Wednesday's meeting, a decision due April 9 from Un previously said he was impressed dergraduate Admissions staffer by Avery's presentation. Fellow Michael Herrera on whether to absentee Athletic Director Tim admit Prefrosh Weekend prospec Downes held, though he wanted tives to Avery. to become better informed, that In the meantime, anticipation is L. TraniThe California Tech "in general, I think choice is a growing. "I think when we meet mc members and Avery advocates look on as Ricketts President Lionel Jingles, center, clarifies a very good thing." on Monday it could go either point during the presentation last Wednesday before the Student Housing Committee. Ex officio member and Master way," said Asimow. 8 THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS APRIL 5, 2004 repares to ements
By DIANA LIN
The Student Investment Fund utes to the community through is an organization at Caltech disbursements, which are al which was founded in the 1970s lowed to be worth up to 35% of from an endowment of $10,000 its portfolio value. These funds along with the birth of its sister can be applied to by all clubs club in Scripps College from the at Caltech that fill certain cri same benefactor. The two orga teria of being active, engaging nizations keep close contact and and focused. However, the dis have semiannual banquets that bursements are only for capital they take turns hosting. The or expenditures for equipment that ganization was created to allow will be used for an extended pe those in the Caltech community riod of time. This year, the ap to learn and practice making plications were due last Friday, investments. All members of April 2, 2004. the community are welcome, The organization is currently regardless of their knowledge led by its Board of Directors or experience. Currently, over composed of eleven members half of its members are inexpe who must be sufficiently ac rienced and are mostly under tive in the club to remain on graduates. the board. The chairman, VP/ Through all the unpredictable treasurer and secretary are Neil trials of the stock market, the Choudri, Chris Flatt and Gra club has successfully managed ham Free respectively all full its investment so that its portfo members of Page House. Along
D. Karla/The California Tech lio is worth over $300,000. Over with them, there are eight direc Bob shows off some of its hardware, including eight computers, two power supplies, a generator, and 80% of the portfolio is invested tors, which together compose an air conditioner, along with the equipment needed to run its sensors. in stocks, which is an unusually the Board. The club has a long high proportion compared to concrete constitution that gov most personal portfolios, show erns the organization and activ ing the club's current aggressive ity of its members. Team Caltech Readies For Second and optimistic view on the mar Meetings, which are open to ket. all Caltech members, are every After the high-tech stock Monday at 6:15 P.M. in room Grand Challenge, Two Years Away bubble crash in the 90s, the club 139 of Moore Laboratory. Meet Continued/rom Page 1, Column 5 had to go through a painful refi ings usually last for an hour that fied 1996 Chevy Tahoe 4x4. series of GPS waypoints that in nancing of its portfolio in which includes dinner, presentation Being a cross-country race, the At a cost of $500,000 and more cluded barriers, obstacles, ditches it cut losses and reorganized its of the portfolio summary from race course contained a wide va than 20,000 person-hours, Bob and an underpass. To qualify, the portfolio. At one point, the SIF the treasurer and discussions of riety of different terrains. These has been retrofitted with electri vehicles had to make it through portfolio went from being worth important news and proposals included clear roads, side roads, cally controlled steering, throttle, the course without hitting any ob three-quarters of a million dol from participants. Sometimes dirt trails, rocky terrain, open ter brakes, transmission and ignition. stacles. Teams were allowed two lars and crashed to approxi meetings include invited special rain, lake beds and highway un There are 8 computers, 2 uninter runs and the performance plus mately $220,000. Since then, speakers from outside the com derpasses. Since a vehicle needs rupted power supplies, a genera time was used to determine the the club has picked itself up and munity who come to share their to travel approximately 25 mph tor capable of putting out 6 kW pole position in the actual contest. is currently worth approximate insights and experiences about on average to meet the time re of power and an AC to cool ev Of the 25 teams that entered the ly $335,000. investing. quirements of the contest, the erything. For navigation, the sen qualification round, only 7 actual Every year the club contrib- challenge is by no means trivial. sors used were 2 LADARs (Laser ly finished the course and among Dr. Murray showed some vid Detection and Ranging - a sort these 7 was Team Caltech. In fact, eos of human drivers driving in of radar but using lasers instead Caltech was the first team to make won by him on Jeopardy. Terra the judges shut down "Bob". cross-country conditions similar of microwaves), 2 sets of stereo it all the way through the course. Max was a converted 6x6 military SciAutonicsII managed to trav to the contest and it was evident cameras (one for short range and This event not only allowed Team truck built by the Oshkosh Truck el 6.7 miles. Golem surprisingly that any successful design would one for long range), a GPS unit Caltech to see how "Bob" per Company and Ohio State. went 5.2 miles and TerraMax have to take into account the huge capable of 30 cm accuracy and a formed on an actual course, but it On Friday, March 12th, all of traveled 1.7 miles but backed a amounts of vibration, dust and IMU (inertial measurement unit) also gave them an opportunity to the teams lined up at Slash X, a half-mile for some reason so of sliding that cross-country driving built by Northrop-Grumman that see the competition. famous bar outside of Barstow. ficially, it traveled only 1.2 miles. requires. could measure acceleration and The greatest competition came Having received the GPS way According to Dr. Murray, fu Since there was only a year velocities. from the "Red Team". Led by points at 3:20am, the teams lined ture work will focus on 5 areas: from the announcement of the Since the vehicle had to be Dr. Whittaker of Carnegie Mel up for a staring ceremony at improving perception, decision contest in early 2003 to the actual completely autonomous, a great lon University, an institution with 6:00am and started off at 6:30. making and technical driving, contest on March 13th, Dr. Mur deal of work went in to writing one of the best robotics programs The "Red Team", having had getting more system engineers ray said that he did believe that the navigation software. Using in the world, the "Red Team" was the best run time during qualifi and improving the teamwork. there was enough time for any an approach taken by the Mars by far the most well funded and cation, went first. Their vehicle DARPA has already announced team to win the contest in the first rovers (whieh are also largely experienced team. Their vehicle, traveled 7.4 miles before going the Grand Challenge 2 for the year. Thus his goal in entering the autonomous), the core of the a converted military Humvee, off course, getting stuck on a fall of 2005 with an increase in contest was to compete and get as . navigation system is an "arbiter" took $3 million to build and con berm and having their front tires the prize money to $2 million. far as possible. From this experi program that integrates sensor tained the latest sensors and best catch fire. In response to this predictable ence, the team would have a solid data and makes high level deci software. Caltech's "Bob", got off to a development, Dr. Murray and foundation to compete in and win sions. Each sensor (the LADARs, Of the other teams, there was good start. However, around 1 Team Caltech will implement an future runnings of the race. cameras, GPS, etc.) sends to the SciAutonicsII, Golem and Ter mile, it decided to go off the dirt aggressive strategy to get Bob in A goal of Dr. Murray's was . arbiter a so-called "goodness raMax. SciAutonicsII was a $1 path that comprised the initial shape for the next contest and are that "Team Caltech" be primarily map" that indicates the preferenc million converted dune buggy route and traveled 0.5 miles off looking for interested undergrads the work of Caltech undergrads. es for each direction (or arc) of built by employees of Rockwell road on a route parallel to the dirt to help out. During the spring of 2003, an un movement as determined by that Scientific Company and Elbit, road. It then decided to go back to More information can be dergraduate course was offered sensor. For instance, if the short an Israeli defense firm that has the road but got stuck in a barbed found at the DARPA website in which 55 students did an ini range cameras detect an object extensive experience with UAVs wire fence. Because "Bob" lacked http://www.darpa.millgrandchal tial project analysis and design. dead ahead, then the goodness (unmanned aerial vehicles). the sensors to detect the wire and lange. The contest results are at Continuing into to the summer, map for the short range camera Golem was a modified Ford F-150 didn't have the programming to http://www.darpa.mil/grandchal 23 undergrads did some in depth would indicate a strong aversion pickup truck built by a team led deal with it, the vehicle attempted lenge/mediaifinaLdata.pdf. Team design work. During the fall, 25 to traveling straight ahead. The by Caltech PhD graduate Richard repeatedly to run down the fence Caltech's website is at http://team. people built the actual vehicle arbiter receives such information Mason and funded by $35,000 with no result. After 45 minutes, caltech.edu. and during the winter, 20 students from each sensor at a rate of 2- plus 10 additional helpers from 10 measurements per second and Caltech and JPL finished up ev integrates this using a weighted The California Tech erything in preparation for the average into the final decision to Caltech 40-58 contest. To coordinate the proj go a certain direction at a certain Pasadena, CA 91125 ect, everyone was assigned to one rate. of three teams: Vehicle (which According to Dr. Murray, there took care of the mechanical and wasn't enough time to implement electrical hardware), Embed all of the original design specifi ded Systems (which handled the cations. Some parts, including a computer interface, the control crucial road following program, algorithms and vehicle manage could not be completed in time. ment) and Planning (which wrote Nevertheless, on March 9th, the the software for navigation, route team headed out to Fontana Speed planning and terrain sensing). way for the qualification round. In The result of a year of intense this round, teams had to navigate work is "Bob", a heavily modi- a 1.25 mile course specified as a